Title Assistance is a sequence at Appellation Mountain. Each week, one reader’s title questions might be mentioned. We’re counting on considerate feedback from the group to assist expectant dad and mom slender down their title choices. Thanks upfront for sharing your perception!
EASY TO SPELL, HARD TO NICKNAME
Ok writes:
Questioning should you and your readers can assist once more?! Our fourth child is due this summer time. Final time I wrote we ended up with a lady! We stared at names on the wall for a stable three days (deciding between Ellis, Hollis and Collins) and at last went with Collins.
We additionally added a boy in 2022, Ellis.
Present children are Linden (m), Collins (f), and Ellis (m).
Ellis’ lady title was Merritt Catherine (prompt a number of occasions from readers throughout our final write in) so that’s our present entrance runner for a lady. I say entrance runner however actually we don’t have every other choices for a lady.
Nonetheless, we don’t have a single boy title … and likelihood is I’ll have one other boy .
We like:
- Forrest – it’s at all times been a reputation we speak about however it’s onerous to commit. I additionally fear if there’s an excessive amount of unfavourable (racist) affiliation with it.
- Ashton – I like Ashton however my husband is a tough no.
- Hayden – I additionally like Hayden however it could be too standard for us.
- Merritt – My husband likes Merritt for boy, however I actually solely prefer it on a lady.
I Iove a Southern-sounding title. Simple to spell, straightforward to pronounce, onerous to nickname and never too standard.
Our surname seems like Citadel with an R on the finish. Which means nothing that ends in -er which takes away so many good names.
Any concepts? Thanks for contemplating!
Please learn on for my response and depart your considerate recommendations within the feedback.
SOUTHERN, STYLISH, SLIGHTLY SURPRISING
Abby replies:
Congratulations on child quantity 4!
I believe Merritt Catherine is perfection for a daughter. Whereas I’m certain readers might need another concepts, I’m going to give attention to boy names.
It does really feel such as you’re barely caught, proper?
If I met slightly Forrest, I’d assume his dad and mom have been after the polished, almost-outdoorsy power of this title. Forrest may main in finance, however he’s additionally president of his school’s open air membership. The distinction has loads of enchantment.
Besides I’ve that very same query. Whereas probably the most well-known Forrest is Gump, adopted in all probability by Whitaker, I do consider the Accomplice Civil Warfare Common and his legacy of racism and violence. Then once more, that’s a query that surfaces in naming circles. Forrest is a High 500 title within the US, one which sounds proper at house in our River/Rowan second.
In comparison with the extra standard Ashton and Hayden, I believe Forrest is the title to beat.
And since it has a reasonably vital downside, I believe it’s value attempting to beat it.
One other issue: whereas S ending names are nice, you’ve already used two. Names ending with R are out. So I’m inclined to search for one thing ending with -N, -Y, or one other sound altogether.
A BROTHER FOR LINDEN, COLLINS, and ELLIS
ASHBY
We pronounce it “bee” however “by” initially meant farm. I like the way in which Ash connects to Linden in probably the most refined manner. And whereas that was equally true for Ashton, Ashby is way much less frequent.
CROSBY
One other -by title with potential: Crosby. It’s musical (Bing, David), athletic (Sidney), and has that nice buttoned-up high quality whereas nonetheless feeling informal and enjoyable.
DALTON
Whereas Dalton is a two-syllable, ends-with-N title, similar to Linden, the sounds are properly distinct. This title ranked within the US High 100 for a number of quick years on the finish of the 90s/starting of the 2000s, however it by no means fairly caught on.
DONOVAN
How do you’re feeling about three syllables somewhat than two? I believe Donovan is straightforward to pronounce and spell, and sounds nice with Linden, Collins, and Ellis.
GRADY
I’ve at all times preferred Grady, a surname title that feels at-home in flannel shirts, however has an exalted that means: noble or illustrious.
MACKAY
For some time, each Mac title had gone to the ladies, from Mackenzie and Makayla. However I believe Mackay nonetheless feels masculine. The truth is, as all these acquainted Mac/Mc names head into mother territory, newcomers like Mackay enliven the sound for a brand new era.
REED
Is Reed too standard? The numbers say no, however it’s value contemplating all of the boys named Reid – identical pronunciation – in addition to the various youngsters answering to Reese. Nonetheless, I actually just like the sound of Reed with Linden, Collins, and Ellis.
SHEPHERD
I’m suggesting Shepherd as a result of I believe it feels barely Southern, and hits the identical polished, down-to-earth be aware as your older children’ names. However I’m unsure concerning the repeating S sounds in Shepherd and Citadel-with-an-R. Additionally: would it not be shortened to Shep? I don’t assume so, however it might occur.
TRUETT
An ideal ends-with-TT title that continues to be far much less frequent than Everett, Beckett, and firm.
WILEY
Wilder’s R-ending means it’s out. Wesley is simply too standard. However W is such a very good preliminary. Certainly there’s one thing? After which it hit me: Wiley. (Or Wylie, should you desire.) It’s up to date, however with loads of backstory, too.
General, I’m caught on Truett, in all probability with Donovan as an in depth second. However is Donovan too predictable? As a result of I do really feel like Mackay may very well be a very out-of-left-field form of alternative that may put on so nicely.
However do any of them high Forrest? I’m actually unsure about that. I believe I’d select Truett over Forrest, however I’d keen to listen to others’ ideas.
